Italy is known for its excellent universities, with titles that make the difference in job vacancies. To find out how to study in Italy, ensuring prominence in the international market, check out the tips in this article.
| Question | Answer |
| How much does it cost to study in Italy? | Depends on. Bachelor’s degree courses range from €400 to €4,000 annually in public universities, and from €6,000 to €20,000 in private universities. |
| How to study for free in Italy? | The Italian Government offers scholarships that exempt the payment of the course, and some even offer a stipend. |
| How to study in Italy with Enem? | Italian higher education does not recognize the Enem score in its admission process. |
Step by step to study in Italy
Firstly, there are two paths to Italian higher education: entering as a foreign citizen or a European citizen.
If you are entitled to Italian citizenship or are a citizen of any other country in the European Union, know that it is even easier!
For all applicants, the first step to studying in Italy is to stay tuned to the universities’ calendar and application deadlines. Dates are available on each institution’s websites, but as a general rule, the academic year begins in mid-September/early October.
Procedure for foreign students
For foreigners, the application process to Italian colleges is a little more time consuming. Therefore, it is recommended to plan your move at least one year in advance.
1. Choose the university and course
The first step to studying in Italy is to decide on the course. The Italian undergraduate curriculum is classified as:
- Laurea Trienalli: the equivalent of a three-year Bachelor’s degree in Brazil;
- Laurea Magistrale: a course that includes a specialization, in addition to the Laurea Trienalli, which is equivalent to the Master’s Degree in Brazil. It lasts for 5 years.
In addition to these courses, Italian universities also offer Master’s and Postgraduate courses, with an average duration of two years, and specific programs of Doctorates and Research Programs, with variable duration.
When choosing the university, it is important to know that some institutions are recognized around the world, as is the case of the Design, Architecture and Engineering courses at the Politecnico di Milano. Check here the ranking of the best Italian universities.
In addition to the quality of education, one must take into account the cost of living of the chosen city. In the case of universities that are located in major centers, such as Rome and Milan, a cheaper option is to live in satellite cities, with easy access to public transport.
2. Provide the necessary documentation
After choosing your course and university in Italy, it is important to access the official website of the educational institution, to check the documents that must be presented. As a general rule, Italian universities ask:
- Elementary School Transcript;
- Certificate of completion of elementary school;
- High School Transcripts;
- Certificate of completion of high school.
For postgraduate courses, the certificates of completion of the graduation and school transcript must also be presented, with a request for equivalence of disciplines similar to what exists in Brazil.
All documents must be duly translated into Italian and apostilled, a process that can be done by sworn translators.
Attention: a requirement of Italian colleges is to have done at least 12 years of regular school. If you have done less than 12 years between elementary and high school, it is recommended to also complete preschool or the first year of college.
3. Enroll in the university course
The application period for foreign students is often separate from the enrollment of citizen students. So keep an eye on the calendar of each educational institution!
It is common for universities to accept applications from April or May, but dates vary.
4. Check in the student visa at the Italian Consulate
One of the requirements of the student visa, issued by the Italian government, is enrollment in an educational institution. Therefore, consult the Italian Consulate in Brazil closest to your city, with the voucher in hand.
Procedure for European students
For Brazilians who hold Italian or European citizenship, studying in Italy is a fairly simple process. As an Italian or European citizen residing in Italy, you have the same rights as those who were born on the continent.
That way, you don’t have to worry about visas, which are mandatory for foreign students. However, if you have completed your studies in Brazil or any other country, it is important to be aware of the validation and translation of diplomas.
Non-compulsory attendance at classes and oral exams
In Italian universities it is not compulsory to attend classes, strange as it may seem. In addition, the programs of the disciplines are adapted for students who attend classes in person or not. Those who do not watch, usually have a much higher reading requirement.
In addition, the general rule of assessment in Italian universities is the oral test, which is much more common than the written assessment (which also exists). If you fail or are not satisfied with the grade, the student has the right to repeat the test.
How much does it cost to study in Italy?
To study in Italy, an important part of planning is the cost. Unlike Brazil, Italian public universities are not free.
Annual fees, however, vary with the income tax return. That is, who earns more, pays more.
In addition, each institution charges specific amounts. Check out some examples of the average prices in Italian colleges consulted in January 2023 on the websites of the universities themselves:
| University | Annual value |
| University of Pavia | From 400€ to 4500€ |
| Politecnico di Milano | From 888,59€ to 3.891,59€ |
| University of Padova | Between 2.533€ and 2.948€ |
| Sapienza University | From 1.200€ to 2.821€ |
Private universities are more expensive and charge from €6,000 to €20,000 per year.
To discover a university and course suitable for your pocket, Universitaly divides institutions by courses, levels of specialization and region. The site also provides information about scholarships, especially those that are available to all universities.
Does the cost of studying in Italy involve only the university fee?
No.
Studying in Italy involves planning that, in addition to the course, must take into account housing, transportation, food and leisure.
Students who do not hold Italian citizenship should be aware of visa fees. Currently, the student visa for university courses costs R $ 272.30, according to the website of the Italian Consulate in Belo Horizonte.
That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on scholarships. In addition to lowering the annual fees for university courses, some even offer stipends for foreign students.
How to get a scholarship to study in Italy?
To get a scholarship to study in Italy, you need to fit in some prerequisites. Some institutions offer their own scholarships, which reward students with exceptional grades, but most of the discounts are based on family income.
The scholarship applicant must present the ISEE Università, which will serve as the basis for calculating the amount of the annual fees. For foreign students, the documents required for ISEE are:
- Birth Certificate/Passport;
- Income Tax Return of the country of origin;
- Registration of assets in the country of origin (deeds of real estate or registrations of companies).
All documents must be original, with appropriate certifications from the issuing body, and translated into Italian by a translator registered at the Brazilian Consulate.
The Italian government, through the Ministero dell’Instruzione, Università e Ricerca (MIUR), also offers scholarships, based on the average family income. According to the agency’s website, applicants get housing assistance, stipends and exemption from university fees.
How to get the MAECI scholarship to study in Italy?
The Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (MAECI), the section of the Italian government responsible for international affairs, offers exclusive scholarships for foreign students. The scholarships, which last from 6 to 9 months, offer students 900€ per month.
To obtain the MAECI scholarship, applicants must:
- Have an interest in Laurea Magistrale (Master’s), high artistic training (AFAM), Doctorate or Research Program;
- Present a valid study title, which allows enrollment in the chosen course;
- Be under the age of 28 years (until the date of registration);
- Present certificate of proficiency in Italian level B2 or, for courses taught in English, proficiency in English level B2.
The notice for the MAECI scholarship is published annually, and applications must be made on the MAECI website, respecting the deadline.
How does the entrance exam work in Italy?
The entrance exam in Italy, unlike in Brazil, is not a prerequisite for entry into higher education.
Most of the courses are numero aaperto, that is, free access. Some universities, such as Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, have their own exams.
The Programmato Access, a test at the national level similar to the Brazilian Enem, is a specific prerequisite of some courses. They are:
- Medicine and Surgery;
- Dentistry and Dental Prostheses;
- Veterinary medicine;
- Architecture.
The Programmato Access is also required in the English modalities of the courses of Medicine, Surgery, Dentistry and Dental Prostheses.
To know more details about what it takes to study in Italy, see this video from Verinha Simões’ channel, in which she summarizes the 4 main steps for those who want to study in the country:
How to study medicine in Italy?
To study medicine in Italy, the student must be accepted into the Programmato Access. The test, prepared by MIUR, is similar to the Brazilian entrance exam: there are 60 questions, which address high school subjects and general knowledge. You can find old proofs here on the Accesso Programmato website.
When enrolling in the Italian entrance exam of Medicine, the student must choose three institutions that offer the course. Admission will be through the score in the test, in addition to the offer of vacancies of each university.
As a general rule, Italian universities are more focused on theory than on practice. Unlike in Brazil, it is unusual to see university students working part-time. In the course of Medicine, the practice of residency is reserved for specialization courses.
Do I need a visa to study in Italy?
Yes, the visa to study in Italy is mandatory.
Even for courses lasting less than three months, which fit the tourist visa, the student visa is required at the time of registration.
The visa must be made still in Brazil, upon an application at the Italian Consulate, since the government does not provide this documentation to those who are already in the country.
If you hold Italian or European citizenship, however, you can travel with ease. Citizens of the European Union are free to study, work and live legally in Italy without the need for a Permesso di Soggiorno.
How to study and work in Italy?
Those who want to study in Italy often ask themselves: is it possible to work at the same time? The simple answer is yes, but there are some rules to be observed.
The Permesso di Soggiorno per motivi di studio, the Italian student visa, guarantees the right to work. However, the contract cannot exceed 20 hours per week. Therefore, it is not uncommon to meet foreign students who have part-time jobs, such as waiters.
However, Italian universities are often exhausting. The workload of studies, the content of the exams and the level of demand of some courses are usually high, which ends up taking all the time of the students.
Need to know Italian to study in Italy?
It is not necessary to know Italian to study in Italy, but it helps.
Many courses are taught in English, from undergraduate to post-doctoral studies. For these courses, you will be required to present a B2 level English proficiency certificate.
It’s important to remember, though, that it’s not easy to find English-speaking people in Italy, especially outside of cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence. For more bureaucratic tasks, such as renting an apartment, it is recommended to learn the basics of the language.
Is it worth studying in Italy?
Anyone who has already gone through the experience guarantees: it is worth studying in Italy.
The country of the boot boasts some of the most reputable universities in Europe, and offers a lower cost of living than countries like England, Ireland and Germany.
In addition, the proximity of Italian to Portuguese facilitates learning. Many people can reach advanced levels of the language without needing lessons.
Not to mention the beautiful landscapes, historic cities and unparalleled gastronomy. Living in Italy, in general, is a pleasurable experience.
Faq
How to prove means of subsistence for foreign students in Italy?
Foreign students must submit, according to the ISEE, income tax return, declaration of assets and personal data. The original documents must be presented with a sworn translation.
How to study Italian for free in Italy?
There are several initiatives of the Italian government to teach the language to foreigners, as well as study centers with the same focus on universities. The Comune di Torino, for example, offers a number of features, as do the Commune di Ferrara and the Comune di Milano.
How to validate my studies from Brazil to use in Italy?
Since international titles are not recognized in Italy, you must arrange a Dichiarazione di valore in loco, which guarantees the validity of the diploma. Then, you will have to look for an Italian university and make the equivalence of studies.
After studying in Italy, do I need to validate the diploma in Brazil?
Yes, for the Italian diploma to be recognized in Brazil, it is necessary to revalidate the diploma received in Italy, which must be analyzed and recognized by a Brazilian university.